Summary
In case you missed it,during Thursday’s dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, a newDonkey Konggame was revealed for the upcoming console. TitledDonkey Kong Bananza, it’sa 3D platformer starring the titular gorilla.
That said, if there’s one thing that immediately stood out to fans, besides the fact that Donkey Kong is wearing overalls or the heavy emphasis on destructability and discovery, it’s that DK didn’t look his usual self.
Rather, his design was much more in line with that of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and not the one fans had grown accustomed to. Naturally, that led to some upset fans. But if you ask Donkey Kong’s original designer, change is a good thing.
Don’t Throw A Banana Fit
Taking to Twitter, Kevin Bayliss, a character artist and designer who helped shape the original 3D design of Donkey Kong at Rare for Donkey Kong Country, noted that “people need to embrace change.”
In his post, Bayliss called the DK design “better looking,” before asking fans to “give a big warm welcome for the new DK.” In a separate reply,he called the redesign “long overdue,“while also noting that “evolution while being sympathetic to the original is an art.”
For what it’s worth,Nintendo did seemingly confirm a redesign all the way back in February. And while change is sometimes jarring, as Bayliss notes, it’s all part of evolution. Long live the Kong.
